448 DRY LAND FARMING 



lower depressions in the bed may carry water for stock 

 through the year. 



Irrigating ditches may be utilized in furnishing to 

 dry land homes the necessary water when they are suffi- 

 ciently near, which, however, is not the case in a great 

 majority of instances. Dependence on such water alone 

 is hazardous, unless the ditch is supplied with water all 

 the year, which seldom happens. This objection may 

 be so far met by leading a reserve of water into a reser- 

 voir, or by pumping into the same at the proper season. 

 When water from such reservoirs can be spared to soak 

 the land, even after the crops are reaped, it may aid the 

 crops materially that are grown there the following 

 year. 



Water from wells comes from a very satisfactory 

 source, providing (1) that it is sufficient in supply; (2) 

 that it is not too costly to raise, and (3) that it has the 

 right qualities when obtained. It is satisfactory because 

 in the range country it is free from contamination such 

 as may come from external sources. In some instances, 

 however, the supply is inadequate, in others it has come 

 from great depths, and in yet others it is so affected with 

 undesirable substances as to be unfit for use. But in 

 a great majority of instances subterranean waters are 

 good. 



Water from artesian sources is usually of good 

 quality, but the first cost of obtaining it is frequently 

 more than the farmer is able to bear. Should a flowing 

 well be obtained on a ranch in the semi-arid country, 

 its worth to its possessor cannot easily be overestimat- 

 ed. It is a continual source of blessing. Should it entail 

 the cost of pumping it would still be a blessing. But 

 the farmer should be slow to begin drilling for artesian 

 water without first having a good assurance from some 

 reliable source that his search will not be in vain. 



